Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 24 January (WA 82), what information could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 24 January (WA 82), what estimate they have made of the cost of answering the question in full.

Baroness Verma: Within the disproportionate cost threshold set by Her Majesty's Treasury we can provide information on:
	The Government's policy position: Set out in Choices for women: planned pregnancies, safe births and healthy newborns: The UK's Framework for Results for improving reproductive, maternal and newborn health in the developing world, which is available on the Department for International Development's (DfID's) website and in the Library of the House.DfID's support for reproductive health: DfID provided £43.2 million on reproductive health and £49.4 million on maternal and neonatal health in 2009-10.Avenues through which DfID's health assistance is provided: As has been provided in answer to the noble Lord's Question HL6457 today.

Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 24 January (WA 82), which countries where abortion is permitted receive support from the Department for International Development (DfID); what support is given; at what cost; and whether DfID has placed restrictions on the use of such funds.

Baroness Verma: The Guttmacher Institute report Abortion Worldwide: A Decade of Uneven Progress Annex Table 1 (page 50) provides a list of all countries and territories, by region, in which abortion is legally permitted as at 2008. I will arrange for this report to be placed in the Library of the House.
	UK development spending is reported annually in Statistics on International Development which is available in the Library of the House and on the Department for International Development's (DfID's) website. Tables 14.1-14.4 show total DfID expenditure and UK gross public expenditure (GPEX) on aid by recipient country.
	The Government's bilateral aid programme provides funding to improve healthcare through a number of channels, such as budgetary support, project and programme support, sector support and via grants to at least 150 civil society organisations, both internationally and working in developing countries. DfID also provides unrestricted core funding to over 33 international organisations, including the European Commission, the World Bank and a number of UN agencies working in reproductive health (such as United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Health Organisation), all of which provide support to improve healthcare in developing countries. Acquiring information from this many organisations would cost in excess of the disproportionate cost threshold.
	Restrictions on the use of development funds are contained within the International Development Act 2002. DfID's policy is set out in Choices for women: planned pregnancies. safe births and healthy newborns: The UK's Framework for Results for improving reproductive, maternal and newborn health in the developing world, which is available on DfID's website and in the Library of the House.

Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 24 January (WA 82), what activities are undertaken by the Department for International Development in countries where abortion is not permitted.

Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development's (DfID's) policy is set out in Choices for women: planned pregnancies, safe births and healthy newborns: The UK's Framework for Results for improving reproductive, maternal and newborn health in the developing world and Safe and Unsafe Abortion, which are available in the Library of the House and on the DfID website.

Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Andrew Mitchell, said at the consultation meeting to inform his Department's business plan on reproductive, maternal and newborn health that the Government do not "enter the ring" on the rights and wrongs of abortion.

Baroness Verma: The Coalition Government's position is that safe abortion reduces recourse to unsafe abortion and thus saves lives, and that women and adolescent girls must have the right to make their own decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 25 January (WA 129), whether the Department for International Development collects figures on the causes of death of those who died following unsafe abortion in each country.

Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development (DfID) does not collect these data but relies on data collected by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Africa: Health and AIDS

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government which Government agencies work with AIDS and HIV sufferers in each of the countries of Africa; and with which charities those agencies work.

Baroness Verma: Compiling details of all the charities in Africa that are supported by all UK government agencies would incur disproportionate cost.

Agriculture: Foot and Mouth Disease

Lord Burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have commissioned to assess the efficacy of vaccinating livestock against foot and mouth disease; and when they expect to take a decision on that matter.

Lord Henley: Defra currently supports a significant programme of research on foot and mouth disease (FMD) including, to develop strategies for the most efficacious use of currently available vaccines. This is supplemented by further research to develop improved/novel vaccine candidates. A vaccination protocol has also been published on the Defra website: www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimail/diseases/atoz/fmd/documents/vacprotocol.pdf.
	In the event of an outbreak, the National Emergency Epidemiology Group (NEEG) leads on the surveillance and epidemiological investigations, working closely with animal health to co-ordinate activity in the field, using modelling capabilities when appropriate. The VLA have a model for FMD (Exodis-FMDT ) which has been designed to assess a range of disease control strategies, one of which is vaccination of cattle, taking into account all the factors that are required under the FMD directive. Defra also has call off contracts in place with Genus PLC, to establish operational vaccination centres within five days. We also work closely with industry representatives through the FMD Core Group to assist in the decision making process.
	A decision to vaccinate can be made by the Secretary of State only once an outbreak has been confirmed using all the evidence available to her. The Secretary of State is obliged under Regulations 9 and 10 of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Control of Vaccination) (England) Regulations 2006 (2006/183) to consider the case for vaccination for FMD from the outset of a confirmed outbreak, and to publish the decision once it has been made.

Animal Welfare: Pet Shops

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the case for improving animal welfare in pet shops.

Lord Henley: I am satisfied that the Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended in 1983) together with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 provide adequate protection for the welfare of animals sold as pets.

Armed Forces: Medals

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 13 December 2010 (WA 106), whether, under the exceptions to the five-year rule made by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, veterans may wear, or only accept, the Russian 40th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War Medal and the General Service Medal granted to veterans who served in the Suez Canal zone between 1951 and 1954.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals decided that the Russian 40th Anniversary of Victory medal and the General Service Medal for Service in the Suez Canal Zone between 16 October 1951 and 19 October 1954 could be accepted and worn.

Armed Forces: Medals

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the government of Malaysia about the decision of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals that veterans of the Malaysian campaign may accept but not wear the Pingat Jasa Memorial Medal.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any formal representations from the Government of Malaysia about the decision of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) that veterans of the Malaysian campaign may accept but not wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal. The decision of the HD Committee, and the reasons for this decision, were communicated to the relevant Malaysian authorities by our high commission in Kuala Lumpur.

Aviation: Passenger Duty

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of air passenger duty tax with World Trade Organisation rules.

Lord Sassoon: Air passenger duty (APD) was introduced in 1994 and has been revised several times since. The Government's assessment is that APD is compatible with World Trade Organisation rules.

Banking: Bonuses

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether United Kingdom Financial Investments will be consulted by the remuneration committees of Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland before those committees make decisions on bonuses in respect of 2010.

Lord Sassoon: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's investments in financial institutions on an arm's-length and commercial basis.
	As an active and engaged shareholder, UKFI has engaged in discussions with Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland on their approach to remuneration.

Banks: Green Investment Bank

Baroness Kramer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any of the lending agreed during the Project Merlin negotiations will be allocated to the Green Investment Bank.

Lord Sassoon: The commitment agreed by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander on 9 February 2011 does not include any specific funding for the green investment bank.

Bi-zonal, Bi-communal Federations

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Howell of Guildford on 13 January (Official Report, col. 1573), which countries are governed under a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation similar to that which they espouse for Cyprus; and what assessment they have made of the success of that political system in each case.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government have not made any such assessments. The two Cypriot communities are working towards a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation but the full details are yet to be fleshed out.
	We want to see a settlement agreed and peacefully implemented by Cypriots for Cypriots to deliver a stable, prosperous and united Cyprus, operating as a valued partner within the EU. We will support whichever form of governance the Cypriots themselves agree.

Census

Lord Kilclooney: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the date of the proposed census across the United Kingdom.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for Office for National Statistics, to Lord Kilclooney, dated February 2011.
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what is the date of the proposed census across the United Kingdom. (HL 6809)
	The date of the next census across the United Kingdom is 27 March 2011. This was approved by Parliament for England and Wales in the Census (England and Wales) Order (SI 3210) in December 2009.
	In Scotland and Northern Ireland where the census is a devolved matter, the date was approved by similar legislation.

Consumer Protection and Markets Authority

Lord Teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to recruit board members of the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority; and what is the timetable for recruiting them.

Lord Sassoon: The board of the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority (CPMA) will be appointed in time for the CPMA's establishment, currently planned for the end of 2012.
	The chief executive designate of the CPMA has been named as Martin Wheatley. He will start work as a managing director of the Financial Services Authority in September 2011, and will become chief executive of the new body once it is formally established.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they track the fate of opposition activists and opposition leaders imprisoned in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and, if so, how they undertake such monitoring.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK closely monitors reports of intimidation and harassment of opposition figures. We work with our EU partners to follow up cases of concern, and liaise regularly with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Joint Human Rights Office and local non-governmental organisations to assess the situation. We continue to press the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the highest levels to ensure that the upcoming elections are free and fair.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what aid they have given Democratic Republic of Congo in the past 12 months; and how much of it was channelled through (a) the United Nations, (b) non-governmental organisations, and (c) Congolese civil society.

Baroness Verma: The UK will spend some £130 million in aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2010-11. Of this, some £65.9 million was channelled through the United Nations and £34.8 million through international non-governmental organisations (NGO). The UK does not currently channel aid through Congolese civil society but is providing £10 million over five years to a new civil society support programme that will soon begin to provide grants to Congolese groups focusing on good governance.

Disabled People

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discuss with the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission his comments on BBC One on 6 February about the alleged mockery of a member's disability during parliamentary proceedings; and, if so, what was the outcome.

Baroness Verma: My right honourable friend the Minister for Women and Equalities and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Equalities have regular discussions with the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission on a range of issues. However, the commission is an independent public body and it would not be appropriate for Ministers to comment on the views of the commission's chair.

Dogs: Microchipping

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the case for the compulsory microchipping of all dogs in the United Kingdom.

Lord Henley: A proposal for all dogs to be compulsorily microchipped was included in Defra's consultation on dangerous dog legislation. Defra received 1,875 responses on this issue, of which 84 per cent were in favour and 16 per cent opposed. We are currently working with groups such as the RSPCA to look at a range of issues raised in the consultation, including microchipping.

EU: Overseas Aid

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Lord Howell of Guildford on 1 February (Official Report, col. 71), whether they will give notice to the European Union that they intend to administer all official development assistance directly and provide none through European Union channels.

Baroness Verma: At present there are two EU channels for delivering aid to which the UK contributes. The EU Budget finances aid to Asia, Latin America, the EU Neighbourhood and pre-accession countries. It also provides funds for cross-cutting assistance, such as humanitarian support or support for non-government organisations (NGOs). Our contributions to the EU Budget are non-discretionary and imposed by the EU treaties. Section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 gives effect to EU law within the UK. The UK also contributes to the European Development Fund (EDF), a member states' voluntary fund that provides support to 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.
	All UK aid channelled through the EU is currently being assessed under the Multilateral Aid Review to ensure it is as effective as possible and brings real benefits to the world's poor. The UK considers the EDF to be the most effective, flexible and poverty-focused of the EU's external instruments which shares many of the UK's strategic development priorities, and enables UK aid to reach countries and regions with no UK presence. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has, however, made clear that the European Commission needs to step up its efforts to demonstrate results and the impact of its aid. He has urged the Commission to adopt a Europe-wide aid transparency guarantee, similar to the recent commitment made by Britain.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Travel Advice

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government which countries are currently subject to warnings against travel from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and which category of severity each country is in.

Lord Howell of Guildford: As of 8 February at 1200 GMT, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises:
	against all travel to: Ivory Coast and Somalia;against all but essential travel to: Guinea, Haiti, Mauritania, Niger;against all and all but essential travel to parts of: Afghanistan, Albania, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Sudan, Thailand and Yemen;against all travel to parts of: Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Djibouti, Ecuador, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Uganda and Venezuela; andagainst all but essential travel to parts of: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Burundi, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Egypt, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Mexico, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Travel Advice

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the process of consultation with other departments, particularly the Department for International Development, before the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issues a warning advising against travel to less developed countries such as Kenya which are heavily dependent on tourism.

Lord Howell of Guildford: There is no formal process for consultation with other government departments when drafting amendments to Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice. Consultation is sought if considered necessary, depending on the type of amendment to our travel advice. We know that our travel advice can have an impact on travel, trade and political considerations, but we do not let this influence the advice we give. All advice is based on objective assessments of the risks to British nationals-their safety is our main concern.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Travel Advice

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what warnings against travel to Kenya have been issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the past 10 years; for how much of the past 10 years such warnings have been in place; and what assessment has been made of how those warnings have affected Kenya's tourist receipts from the United Kingdom.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The first warning against travel since 2001 was on 31 December 2007, when the Foreign and Commonwealth Office began to advise against all but essential travel to specific areas of Kenya. This continued until 2 January 2008, during Kenya's post-election violence, when we advised against all but essential travel to the whole country. On 19 January 2008, this advice was downgraded to advice against all but essential travel to specific areas of Kenya and, with variation to those areas, this has remained the case. We do not have access to any information on how these changes in travel advice have affected Kenya's tourist receipts from the United Kingdom.

Forests

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will respond to the recent suggestion by the National Trust that it may purchase land owned by the Forestry Commission.

Lord Henley: Defra and the Forestry Commission are currently conducting a public consultation about future ownership and management of the public forest estate in England. As a part of this process, views are being sought from a wide range of potential private and civil society partners on a number of new ownership and management options.

Gaza

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel about the lack of electricity in Gaza due to the amount of fuel being delivered from Israel, and its effect on essential services including regular water supply, sewage treatment and removal, and the functioning of health services.

Baroness Verma: Electricity shortages in Gaza have been more common and prolonged in recent weeks, harming the delivery of essential services. Until recently the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO), which runs the Gaza power plant, had an arrangement with the Palestinian Authority (PA) whereby the PA purchased fuel from Israel that was imported into Gaza, and GEDCO reimbursed the PA through utility revenues. At the beginning of 2011, GEDCO stopped this arrangement and began importing cheaper diesel fuel through the tunnels with Egypt at Rafah. However, tunnel supplies have been severely disrupted due to the recent instability in Egypt, and GEDCO has re-approached the PA to resume fuel transfers from Israel. We call on both parties to come to a swift agreement that allows full resumption of fuel supplies to Gaza.
	We have therefore not made any specific representations to Israel on this matter as we do not see restrictions on imports of Israeli fuel into Gaza as being the cause of the latest electricity shortages. However, we continue to work closely with the office of the quartet representative, UN agencies and other partners to support broader improvements in access to Gaza. We welcome Israel's recent announcement to revive discussions with the Palestinian Authority on exploiting the Gaza Marine gas field, and the approval in principle to both the supply of Palestinian offshore gas to Gaza power plants, and for a new power station. It is important that these commitments are implemented in a timely manner.

Gaza: Airport

Lord Cope of Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the European Union's financial contribution to the building of Gaza International Airport; and what proportion of it came from the United Kingdom.

Baroness Verma: Gaza International Airport was primarily funded by contributions from a number of individual EU member states which did not include the UK, rather than through EU funds. The EU had agreed to provide €25 million (approximately £21.5 million) for the construction of a cargo terminal of which €1.374 million (approximately £1.18 million) was disbursed before the Israeli attack in 2001 which put the airport out of use. The UK share of this EU funding was approximately 16 per cent.

Government Departments: Staff

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government under what legal powers they propose to instruct local authorities to publish details of staff earning more than £58,000 per annum; and whether they will publish details of civil servants, special advisers and employees of quangos and agencies earning more than £58,000.

Baroness Hanham: The Government are currently consulting on a new statutory code of recommended practice for local authorities on the publication of data. The draft code makes clear the Government's preference for a threshold of £58,200 to apply to disclosure of senior salaries in local authorities. The code will be issued in exercise of the Secretary of State's powers under Section 2 of the Local Government, Land and Planning Act 1980. This section permits the Secretary of State to issue a code of recommended practice as to the publication of information by local authorities about the discharge of their functions and other related matters.
	Prior to the publication of this draft code, my department had already taken a number of steps to increase transparency. Individual salary information for senior civil servants in pay bands 2-4 is published on departments' websites. In addition, departments have also published on line the total numbers and grades of non-senior Civil Service staff reporting to each senior Civil Service pay band 1 and 1A post, a description of the role of the team and the total salary cost of that team. The same guidance applies to staff of non-departmental public bodies and arm's-length bodies. The level of disclosure for senior civil servants is going to be reviewed prior to the next exercise, in April 2011, with a view to increasing transparency further.
	The names of the special advisers in post, including each special adviser's pay band, actual salary where this is £58,200 or higher, together with details of the special advisers' pay ranges for 2010-11, were most recently published in the Prime Minister's statement to Parliament on 28 October 2010. (Official Report, col. 18WS).

Health: Pathfinders

Lord Dubs: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding is being allocated to general practitioner pathfinder consortia.

Earl Howe: Any costs associated with establishing pathfinders will come from primary care trust (PCT) budgets. PCT clusters will provide a development fund of £2 per head, in addition to, and alongside existing practice based commissioning funding, to support the development of general practitioner consortia. The department is not monitoring spend on the pathfinder programme.

Health: Pathfinders

Lord Dubs: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many general practitioner consortia are expected to commission commercial consultancies to provide their management.

Earl Howe: General practitioner consortia will have the freedom to decide which commissioning activities they will undertake themselves, and for which activities they may choose to buy in support from external organisations, including local authorities, private and voluntary sector bodies. They will receive a maximum management allowance to reflect the costs associated with commissioning. It is not known how many consortia will choose to buy in support from commercial companies.

Health: Prescriptions

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 19 January (WA 47), whether they will make public the research into the effects on patients (National Health Service, private or both) of labelling prescription medicines with prices.

Earl Howe: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer I gave to Lord Campbell-Savours on 5 July 2010 (Official Report, col. WA24).

Housing Benefit

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 31 January (WA 229), how much of the discretionary housing payments budget has been allocated for the additional tasks of assisting customers in managing their budgets and supporting customers who need assistance with moving.

Lord Freud: We are providing an additional £50 million over the next four years to support customers affected by the changes to local housing allowance rates. We are still considering how this can be targeted and used most effectively.
	This £50 million is in addition to the Government's contribution towards local authorities' discretionary housing payment budgets which we are increasing by £130 million over the same period. We announced the 2011-12 discretionary housing payment allocations on 2 February 2011 (www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/s2-2011.pdf). It is for each local authority to decide how it can best use its allocation to support its customers. We are issuing further good practice guidance to local authorities to assist them in making these decisions.

Human Trafficking

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the scale of human trafficking from Iran to the west via the occupied territories of Nagorno Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government have not made a detailed assessment of the scale of human trafficking from Iran to the West via Nagorno Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions. We do not have information by which to identify this as a route of concern and are informed that neither the UN High Commissioner for Refugees nor the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has reported this as a known route for trafficking in human beings.

Iraq

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take following the Cabinet Secretary's evidence to the Iraq Inquiry about compliance with the Ministerial Code in 2003 in respect of the invasion of Iraq.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: In line with long standing convention, current Ministers are not accountable for decisions of their predecessors.

Israel

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the statement by the Prime Minister of Israel that his government will cut off the Gaza Strip from Israel's water and electricity infrastructure.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are concerned by reports that Israel is considering cutting off the Gaza Strip from Israel's water and electricity infrastructure. Officials at our embassy in Tel Aviv raised this issue with Israeli officials who denied reports that Israel intended to cut off water and electricity supplies to Gaza. They added that it was Israel's intention to see Gaza's water and electricity infrastructure improve, which had been raised on many occasions with those members of the international community who have existing infrastructure projects in Gaza. We consider Israel to have primary responsibility as an occupying power for Gaza's humanitarian needs, including fuel and water.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they next intend to raise with the Government of Israel the Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons without due process.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are aware of reports of mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and continue to monitor the human rights situation in the West Bank, including the issue of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
	Where we have concerns, the UK, along with EU partners, raises them. As previously mentioned to the noble Lord, we regularly raise our concerns with the Israeli Government about the application of due process and the treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last raised with the Government of Israel the number of Israeli checkpoints in the occupied West Bank; what was the number of such checkpoints given to them; and how that compared with 12 months before.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Full figures for 2010 are not yet available. However, we expect the Israeli Bureau of Statistics to inform us as soon as they are.
	According to the comprehensive closure survey completed by the UN at the end of March 2010, Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) field teams documented and mapped 505 obstacles throughout the West Bank. Theseinclude 65 permanently staffed checkpoints, 22 partial checkpoints (staffed on an ad-hoc basis) and 418 unstaffed obstacles, including roadblocks, earth mounds, earth walls, road gates, road barriers, and trenches.
	The total of 505 obstacles represents a net reduction of 121 obstacles (19 per cent), compared to the previous reporting period in March 2009 (626).
	The noble Lord may be aware of reports that Israel plans to transfer overall responsibility for the operation of checkpoints to the Crossing Points Administration (CPA). It is too early to judge what effect this will have on the daily lives of Palestinians needing to pass through checkpoints, but early indications are not positive. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and raise with Israel the importance of easing restrictions on movement and access for ordinary Palestinians

Israel and Palestine: Middle East Quartet

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Middle East quartet spent in each of the past three years for which figures are available on (a) accommodation in Israel and Palestine, and (b) security, for Mr Tony Blair.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We do not hold information on spend by the Middle East quartet.
	The noble Lord may wish to contact the Office for the Quartet Representative directly.

Kosovo

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (a) any black markets in weapons in north and south Kosovo, and (b) the measures taken by the Government of Kosovo and the international agencies there to restrict and prevent any such trading.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government have made no such assessment. However, as noted by the European Commission's 2010 Progress Report on Kosovo, "sustained efforts, supported by clear political will, are needed in the fight against organised crime which remains a matter of very serious concern and affects the rule of law".
	The EU's Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) has an indispensable role to play in this regard. It is a vital contribution to enabling Kosovo to meet EU standards in rule of law.
	Tackling organised crime and corruption is essential for Kosovo's long-term stability and that of the Western Balkans as a whole. It is also essential for Kosovo to make progress along its path to EU membership.

Low Value Consignment Relief

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the total turnover of businesses set-up in the Channel Islands to take advantage of low value consignment relief.

Lord Sassoon: No such assessment has been made. However, the Government are actively reviewing the operation of the low value consignment relief on imports from outside the EU.

Low Value Consignment Relief

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the consequences for businesses in the United Kingdom of reducing the level of low value consignment relief.

Lord Sassoon: No such assessment has been made. However, the Government are actively reviewing the operation of the low value consignment relief on imports from outside the EU.

Maternal Health

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 25 January (WA 129), what support they provided to each country on (a) antenatal care, (b) safe birth, (c) emergency obstetric care, (d) post natal care, and (e) newborn care; and what support they plan to give during the next two years.

Baroness Verma: It is not possible to disaggregate how much was spent on antenatal care, safe birth, emergency obstetric care, postnatal and newborn care in each country without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Department for International Development (DfID) has been reviewing all major spending areas to determine how we can achieve better value for money for the taxpayer and accelerate progress towards the millennium development goals. The reviews will consider how UK aid can help expand access to basic health services, including healthcare. Allocations of future funding will be determined as part of these reviews.

NHS: Budget

Lord Burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the National Health Service budget was spent on administration and management in financial years 1996-97 and 2009-10.

Earl Howe: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  2009-10 1996-97 
			  Percentage Percentage 
			 Managers and Senior Managers 2.0 2.7 
			 Administrative and Clerical 4.0 5.6 
		
	
	The figures represent expenditure on managers and senior managers, and administrative and clerical staff, as percentages of total National Health Service revenue expenditure.
	In respect of 1996-97, the staff expenditure values used in the calculation relate to NHS trusts only. In 2009-10, NHS secondary care is split between NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. The department does not collect data from NHS foundation trusts. Consequently, the staff expenditure values used to calculate the relevant percentage for 2009-10 relate to the amount spent by NHS trusts only. As a result, the figures for the two years are not directly comparable.

NHS: Funding

Baroness Jolly: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the funding model for distributing resources to local NHS bodies in the light of their proposals for the National Health Service.

Earl Howe: From 2013-14, the NHS Commissioning Board will take over responsibility for commissioning guidelines and the allocation of resources from the department. It will be for the board to decide how best to allocate resources to general practitioner (GP) consortia in a way that supports the principle of securing equivalent access to National Health Service services relative to the prospective burden of disease and disability.
	During the transition to the board, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health has asked the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA), an independent committee comprising of GPs, academics and NHS managers, to continue to oversee the formulae for the distribution of NHS resources. ACRA's work programme will include the allocation of funds to GP consortia. This work programme does not pre-empt any decisions to be made by the NHS Board.
	Shadow allocations for GP consortia will be published in late 2011 for 2012-13. Actual allocations for GP consortia will be made in late 2012 for 2013-14.

NHS: Staff

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many doctors were employed by the National Health Service in each year from 1996 to 2010; and by what percentage that changed over that period.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many qualified nursing staff were employed by the National Health Service in each year from 1996 to 2010; and by what percentage that changed over that period.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff were employed by the National Health Service in each year from 1996 to 2010; and by what percentage that changed over that period.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many qualified ambulance staff were employed by the National Health Service in each year from 1996 to 2010; and by what percentage that changed over that period.

Earl Howe: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 EnglandHeadcount and percentages 
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
			 All doctors 86,584 89,619 91,837 94,953 97,436 100,319 104,460 109,964 
			 Consultants (including Directors of public health) 20,402 21,474 22,324 23,321 24,401 25,782 27,070 28,750 
			 Registrars 11,385 11,909 12,131 12,682 12,730 13,220 13,770 14,619 
			 Other doctors in training 17,483 18,404 18,717 18,845 19,192 19,572 21,145 22,701 
			 Hospital practitioners and clinical assistants (non-dental specialties) 1 6,745 6,606 6,318 6,006 5,621 5,362 4,863 4,451 
			 Other medical and dental staff 8,198 8,443 8,968 9,146 9,744 9,910 10,183 10,330 
			 GPs total 2 29,116 29,389 29,697 30,959 31,369 31,835 32,292 33,564 
			 GP Providers 3 26,970 27,200 27,489 27,681 27,791 27,938 28,117 28,646 
			 Other GPs 841 846 762 786 802 864 1,085 1,712 
			 GP registrars 4 1,305 1,343 1,446 1,520 1,659 1,883 1,980 2,235 
			 GP retainers 5 . . . 972 1,117 1,150 1,110 971 
			 Total qualified nursing staff 6 319,151 318,856 323,457 329,637 335,952 350,381 367,520 386,359 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery & health visiting staff 301,253 300,467 304,563 310,142 316,752 330,535 346,537 364,692 
			 GP practice nurses 7 17,898 18,389 18,894 19,495 19,200 19,846 20,983 21,667 
			 Total qualified scientific, therapeutic & technical staff 8 94,320 96,298 99,656 102,391 105,910 110,241 116,598 122,066 
			 Qualified Allied Health Professions 43,906 45,022 46,448 53,105 54,788 57,001 59,415 62,189 
			 Other qualified scientific, therapeutic & technical staff 50,414 51,276 53,208 49,286 51,122 53,240 57,183 59,877 
			 Qualified ambulance staff 9 14,720 14,941 14,781 14,783 14,755 14,855 15,609 15,957 
			 Support to clinical staff 281,897 283,871 289,363 296,619 307,225 325,890 344,524 360,666 
			 Support to doctors & nursing staff 237,846 240,040 243,960 249,216 257,136 271,978 287,098 298,752 
			 Support to scientific, therapeutic & technical staff 38,009 38,074 39,162 40,465 41,800 44,602 48,030 52,230 
			 Support to ambulance staff 6,042 5,757 6,241 6,938 8,289 9,310 9,396 9,684 
			 NHS infrastructure support 174,165 170,623 168,448 171,205 173,733 179,783 189,274 199,808 
			 Central functions 70,621 70,647 71,079 73,996 77,628 81,439 85,706 92,257 
			 Hotel, property & estates 82,280 77,803 74,676 72,922 70,849 70,920 71,274 72,230 
			 Manager & senior manager 21,264 22,173 22,693 24,287 25,256 27,424 32,294 35,321 
			 Other non-medical staff or those with unknown classification 6,183 2,820 1,939 2,427 877 1,224 657 657 
			 Other GP practice staff 2 79,481 81,658 82,081 86,333 83,070 84,473 86,292 88,424 
		
	
	
		
			 Englandheadcount and percentages 
			  2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Change 1996-2009 Percentage change 1996-2009 
			 All doctors 117,806 122,987 126,251 128,210 133,662 140,897 54,313 62.7% 
			 Consultants (including Directors of public health) 30,650 31,993 32,874 33,674 34,910 36,950 16,548 81.1% 
			 Registrars 16,823 18,006 18,808 30,759 35,042 37,108 25,723 225.9% 
			 Other doctors in training 24,874 26,305 27,461 16,024 14,136 14,394 -3,089 -17.7% 
			 Hospital practitioners and clinical assistants (non-dental specialties) 1 4,045 3,587 3,077 2,848 2,761 2,333 -4,412 -65.4% 
			 Other medical and dental staff 10,604 10,739 11,100 11,333 11,854 12,176 3,978 48.5% 
			 GPs total 2 34,855 35,944 36,008 36,420 37,720 40,269 11,153 38.3% 
			 GP Providers 3 28,781 29,340 27,691 27,342 27,347 27,613 643 2.4% 
			 Other GPs 2,742 3,398 5,400 6,022 6,663 8,304 7,463 887.4% 
			 GP registrars 4 2,562 2,564 2,278 2,491 3,203 3,881 2,576 197.4% 
			 GP retainers 5 770 642 639 565 507 471 . . 
			 Total qualified nursing staff 6 397,515 404,161 398,335 399,597 408,160 417,164 98,013 30.7% 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery & health visiting staff 375,371 381,257 374,538 376,737 386,112 395,229 93,976 31.2% 
			 GP practice nurses 7 22,144 22,904 23,797 22,860 22,048 21,935 4,037 22.6% 
			 Total qualified scientific, therapeutic & technical staff 8 128,883 134,534 134,498 136,976 142,558 149,596 55,276 58.6% 
			 Qualified Allied Health Professions 65,515 67,841 67,483 68,687 71,301 73,953 30,047 68.4% 
			 Other qualified scientific, therapeutic & technical staff 63,368 66,693 67,015 68,289 71,257 75,643 25,229 50.0% 
			 Qualified ambulance staff 9 17,272 18,117 16,176 17,028 17,451 17,922 3,202 21.8% 
			 Support to clinical staff 368,285 376,219 357,877 346,596 355,010 377,617 95,720 34.0% 
			 Support to doctors & nursing staff 303,630 310,441 291,098 281,894 286,254 303,424 65,578 27.6% 
			 Support to scientific, therapeutic & technical staff 55,025 55,715 54,307 53,259 55,689 59,831 21,822 57.4% 
			 Support to ambulance staff 9,630 10,063 12,472 11,443 13,067 14,362 8,320 137.7% 
			 NHS infrastructure support 211,489 220,387 209,387 207,778 219,064 236,103 61,938 35.6% 
			 Central functions 99,831 105,565 101,860 100,177 105,354 115,818 45,197 64.0% 
			 Hotel, property & estates 73,932 75,431 70,776 71,102 73,797 75,624 -6,656 -8.1% 
			 Manager & senior manager 37,726 39,391 36,751 36,499 39,913 44,661 23,397 110.0% 
			 Other non-medical staff or those with unknown classification 497 435 410 409 353 364 -5,819 -94.1% 
			 Other GP practice staff 2 90,110 89,190 95,845 94,515 92,436 92,333 12,852 16.2% 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 In order to avoid double counting Hospital Practitioners & Clinical Assistants (HPCAs) are excluded from the all doctors totals, as they are predominantly GPs that work part time in hospitals (applies to headcount data only).
	2 GP Data as at 1 October 1996-1999 and 30 September 2000-2009
	3 National level headcount totals for 'GP Providers' and 'Other GPs' have been revised from those published in March 2010 from 28,607 to 27,613 and from 7,310 to 8,304 respectively. The revision has been made due to miscoding of GP type
	4 GP Registrar count for 2008 & 2009 represents an improvement in data collection processes and comparisons with previous years should be treated with caution
	5 GP retainers were first collected in 1999
	6 Nursing and midwifery figures exclude students on training courses leading to a first qualification as a nurse or midwife.
	7 Headcount Practice Nurse figures are estimated for 1999 based on the 1997 fte to headcount ratio.
	8 To make the census data comparable with the Review Body for Nursing Staff and Other Health Professionals definitions, qualified Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) now include Speech & Language Therapists (previously these were included in Other Qualified ST&T staff). For comparability historical data has been reassigned to match the revised definition. The numbers of AHPs will not match those published in previous years.
	9 In 2006 ambulance staff were collected under new, more detailed, occupation codes. As a result, qualified totals and support to ambulance staff totals are not directly comparable with previous years.
	' . ' denotes not applicable
	Data quality
	The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.

Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights

Baroness Blood: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, Hugo Swire, on 16 December 2010 (Official Report, Commons, col. 131W), what further analysis is planned of the responses to the consultation A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Next Steps; how many and what percentage of responses supported the Minister's statement that there was "considerable support" for a wide-ranging bill of rights; and what support there was for a "more limited set of rights".

Lord Shutt of Greetland: A wide range of views were expressed in the consultation and any categorisation of responses into support of either a wide-ranging Bill of Rights, or a more limited set of rights, or other statistical analysis, would be difficult to achieve. As indicated in the Minister of State's statement of 14 December 2010, the responses to the consultation have been published on the Northern Ireland Office website.
	The consultation did demonstrate that there was support for a wide-ranging Bill of Rights amongst human rights and community groups, but also that there was opposition to this and support instead for a more limited set of rights. This was referred to in the Minister of State's statement.

Overseas Aid

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government to which countries United Kingdom overseas aid was sent in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000, (d) 2005, and (e) 2010.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much overseas aid was sent to each recipient country in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000, (d) 2005, and (e) 2010.

Baroness Verma: Details of the amount of UK official development assistance spent in each recipient country in each year to 2009 are available to download from the online database of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development at http://stats.oecd.org/gwids/. Provisional figures for 2010 will be published in April.

Pakistan

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (a) any violence by the Pakistan army and security services against Baluchi people, including solitary confinement, torture and extra-judicial killings, (b) the number of casualties the Pakistani forces have had in Baluchistan in the last year, and (c) any motives for such action.

Lord Howell of Guildford: A number of organisations have highlighted allegations of violence against Baloch people, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in October 2009 and Amnesty International in October 2010. We share the concerns of these organisations and closely monitor the human rights situation in Balochistan.
	The Government of Pakistan face a difficult law and order situation in Balochistan in tackling militant and criminal activity. The conflict is complex and multi-layered. Figures released by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies in 2010 estimated that 483 civilians and 117 security forces' personnel were killed in 737 separate military, insurgent and sectarian-related terrorist attacks in Balochistan.
	Our high commission in Islamabad and our deputy high commission in Karachi engage regularly with the Government of Pakistan and the provincial government in Balochistan on matters of security, rule of law and human rights. Officials also meet representatives of the Baloch community and political parties. We urge that action to counter militant or insurgent activity is conducted in line with Pakistan's obligations under national and international law. It is our long-standing practice not to condone extra-judicial killing or torture.

Pakistan

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any violence by the Iranian army and security services against Baluchi people.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We continue to monitor the situation in Sistan Baluchistan province of Iran, including activities by the Iranian authorities to counter terrorist activity. We strongly condemn all terrorist attacks in Sistan Baluchistan, including the horrific bombings in Chahabar and Zahedan. However, we are concerned that measures adopted by the Iranian authorities to counter terrorism are not always proportionate or in line with Iran's domestic and international obligations. We are also alarmed by the rapid pace of executions in Iran in the past two months, including in Zahedan, and have called on the Iranian authorities to cease immediately all executions.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill [HL]

Lord Howarth of Newport: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether under the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill a parliamentary by-election could be held on 5 May 2011 separate from any other combined election and poll on that date.

Lord McNally: A UK parliamentary by-election could still take place on 5 May but would not be combined with the referendum on the voting system and the other planned polls taking place on this date. In effect, this would mean that separate polling stations would be used for the poll and that other aspects of the poll, for example the issuing and receipt of postal ballot packs, would not be combined.

Prisoners: Voting

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether prisoners on remand are permitted to apply to vote by post if on a constituency electoral register; and whether any legal barrier exists to those serving sentences of one year or less remaining on the electoral register in their home constituency whilst they are in prison.

Lord McNally: Prisoners held on remand are able to vote by post or by proxy, if they are registered. Under Section 4(1)(b) and 4(3)(b) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 one of the requirements for registration is that the person is not subject to any legal incapacity to vote. Hence, a prisoner who is incapable of voting by virtue of Section 3 of the 1983 Act is also a person who is not entitled to be registered. There is no duty on a person who is on the register to notify a registration officer that he is no longer entitled to be registered.

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Baroness Howe of Idlicote: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Lord McNally: The Home Office, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have been leading work to understand how the response to stalking and harassment, including enforcement of the existing offences in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, can be improved. If, as part of this work, potential gaps in the law are identified, we will give them careful consideration.

Republic of Ireland: Celebrations

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the Government of the Republic of Ireland about that government officially celebrating with the use of costumes and re-enactment the murders of Royal Irish Constabulary members, such as the recent celebration of the murders at Glenwood in County Clare in 1921.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have made no formal representations to the Irish Government on this issue.

Shipping: General Lighthouse Authorities

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have sanctioned any general lighthouse authority expenditure on public affairs, communications or public relations agencies and lawyers since 13 May 2010; and, if so, what was the company, amount, date of authorisation and purpose of the contract concerned.

Earl Attlee: No.

Shipping: General Lighthouse Authorities

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 3 November 2009 (WA 52), on how many occasions personnel from the Research and Radionavigation Directorate of the General Lighthouse Authorities of the United Kingdom and Ireland travelled overseas in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, and (c) 2011; and what were the costs and purposes of the visits.

Earl Attlee: This is an operational matter for the Research and Radionavigation Directorate of the General Lighthouse Authorities.

Shipping: General Lighthouse Authorities

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 26 October 2009 (WA 102), how many staff in the Department for Transport's Lights, Navigation and Ports Safety Branch were partly or wholly funded by the General Lighthouse Fund in (a) 2009-10, and (b) 2010-11; and whether the number of staff is to be reduced in 2011-12.

Earl Attlee: Five in 2009-10 and, due to staff changes during the year, six in 2010-11. In each year, only the General Lighthouse Fund accountant was wholly funded from the fund itself.
	The department is currently undergoing administrative reorganisation and remains committed to providing best value to those who pay for the services it provides.

Shipping: Navigation Aids

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 27 September 2010 (WA 566), how many of the 52 recommendations made by the Atkins report, Assessment of the Provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the United Kingdom and Ireland (March 2010), have been delivered in full to date; and which recommendations will remain outstanding on 1 April 2011.

Earl Attlee: The Joint Strategic Board of the General Lighthouse Authorities, and the Department for Transport have actioned 35 Atkins recommendations so far, including the consideration of seven which related to a new charging mechanism; and will continue to implement the remainder as appropriate, over the coming months.

Sport: Football Transfer Fees

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether VAT is charged on football transfer fees.

Lord Sassoon: VAT is charged on football transfer fees at the standard rate of 20 per cent.

Sport: Football Transfer Fees

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider imposing a levy on transfer fees received by professional football clubs and using the proceeds to support sports facilities for young people.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: The Government have no plans to introduce a levy on football transfers.

Sport: Women

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have proposals for promoting female participation in traditionally male sports, following recent high-profile reports about the behaviour of certain former sports presenters.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: In working with the sport national governing bodies (NGBs) on their whole sport plans, Sport England emphasises the need to encourage women and girls to participate in all sports.
	While Sport England has not set specific targets for NGBs on increasing participation among particular groups of people, current funding levels for sports were in part assessed on the strength of their strategic plans to deliver on increased participation among women, black and minority ethnic groups, and disabled people. For the NGBs, developing sports opportunities for girls and women is not an optional extra but a vital part of what they are required to do.
	Sport England also provides funding to the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF), which works with the NGBs on participation among girls and women. The WSFF is funded to work with all sports, including those that are perceived as being traditionally male, to help them tailor their sport and shape it in the most attractive way for women and girls.
	The WSFF is bringing together the major team sports at Twickenham this week to discuss the unique set of issues team sports face in their attempts to raise participation among women and girls. Part of the discussions will be discussing the steps they can take to ensure a positive media profile.
	In addition to core NGB and National Partner funding, Sport England is investing £10 million in an active women initiative. This funding is aimed at helping women in disadvantaged communities and women caring for children under 16.

Taxation: Income Tax

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current estimated annual cost to the Exchequer in a full tax year of raising the income tax threshold to £10,000 (a) without, and (b) with, any behavioural changes.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their current estimate of the increase in the income tax threshold which would cost the Exchequer £1 billion in a full tax year (a) without, and (b) with, any behavioural changes.

Lord Sassoon: Increasing the personal allowance for those aged under 65 from £7,475 to £10,000 in 2011-12 is estimated to cost £13 billion. Increasing the allowance by £185 is estimated to cost around £1 billion.
	Estimated Exchequer costs are on an accruals basis. The estimates assume that the basic rate limit (the band of taxable income facing the basic rate) is fixed. This means that the higher rate threshold (the point of income above which individuals pay higher rate tax) would increase by the same amount as the personal allowance. This occurs because the higher rate threshold is not set in its own right, but is the sum of the personal allowance and basic rate limit.
	The estimates take account of changes in national insurance contributions (NICs) assuming continued alignment of the upper earnings and profits limits with the higher rate threshold for income tax.
	The estimates exclude possible behavioural responses which are likely to be small relative to the estimates provided.
	These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes data projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's Autumn forecast 2010.

Turkey

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are making representations to the government of Turkey following the arrest of 105 Kurds between 24 and 28 January, in particular to enquire how many of them have since been released or charged .

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government have not made representations to the Government of Turkey about these arrests. We expect the Turkish Government to follow the highest standards of human rights and justice at all stages of police and judicial processes. Our embassy in Ankara will be monitoring the situation closely.

Turkey-Armenia Relations

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will join the governments of the United States, France and Russia in asking that diplomatic and other relations between Turkey and Armenia be restored with pre-conditions.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK continues to support and encourage the normalisation and reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia. We urge both sides to work to take this forward. Reinstating diplomatic relations will be beneficial for both countries as well as for the wider region. While there are challenging political issues to address we hope both sides can make progress in 2011.

Universal Credit System

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government who was consulted on the age equality section of the impact assessment on the White Paper Universal Credit: Welfare That Works.

Lord Freud: In the Green Paper 21st Century Welfare we invited responses to a number of models including universal credit and welcomed views on the impact on people covered by equality legislation. Stakeholders were also consulted through the usual mechanisms including policy forums organised by DWP or its agencies, where age organisations were represented. The responses to 21st Century Welfare were published alongside the Command Paper Universal Credit: Welfare that Works.
	Copies of both documents are available from the House Library. They are also available from the website below: www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/legislation- and-key-documents/universal-credit/.

Vehicles: Foreign-registered

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to levy a toll on owners of foreign-registered vehicles using roads in the United Kingdom.

Earl Attlee: The Government plan to introduce a road user charging scheme for heavy goods vehicles, both foreign and UK registered. Under EU law, it is not possible to discriminate between vehicles registered in the UK and elsewhere in the EU. We hope to consult on detailed proposals later this year.
	Road charging for other types of vehicles has been ruled out for the duration of this Parliament.